Definitions and Confusions
- Overbite is often confused with overjet, which is the distance between the maxillary anterior teeth and the mandibular anterior teeth in the anterior-posterior axis.
- Overbite may also be used to refer to Class II malocclusion or retrognathia, although this usage can be considered incorrect.
- Class II malocclusion is when the mandible appears too far behind the maxilla.
- A person with Class II malocclusion may exhibit excessive overbite or openbite.
- Openbite is a condition where the upper and lower teeth do not meet or bite in the correct position.
Changing Human Dentition
- European overbite is believed to be about 250 years old and was influenced by the adoption of table knives and forks.
- Before the use of cutlery, Europeans would clamp their teeth on a piece of meat and cut it with a knife.
- The introduction of forks and knives resulted in cutting being done on the plate, leading to a more common overbite.
- The Chinese, who adopted chopsticks earlier, also experienced an increase in overbites with the introduction of chopsticks.
- Labiodental consonant sounds in human speech may have developed alongside the overbite.
References
- Okeson, J.P. (2008) Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion. Sixth Edition.
- Overbite at Dorlands Medical Dictionary.
- Twilley, Nicola. Freedom from food. Aeon Media Ltd. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
- Moran, Steven; Bickel, Balthasar (14 March 2019). Softer, processed foods changed the way ancient humans spoke. The Conversation. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
External Links
- Classification: ICD-10: K07.2, ICD-9-CM: 524.29, MeSH: D057887
- Dental disease involving the jaw
- General jaw abnormality
- Malocclusion
- Orthodontics
Notable Figures in Orthodontics
- Charles B. Bolton
- Holly Broadbent Sr.
- Allan G. Brodie
- Charles J. Burstone
- Peter Buschang
- Calvin Case
- Harold Chapman (Orthodontist)
- David Di Biase
- Jean Delaire
- Terry Dischinger
Overbite is the extent of vertical (superior-inferior) overlap of the maxillary central incisors over the mandibular central incisors, measured relative to the incisal ridges.
| Overbite | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Orthodontics  |
The term overbite does not refer to a specific condition, nor is it a form of malocclusion. Rather an absent or excess overbite would be a malocclusion. Normal overbite is not measured in exact terms, but as a proportion (approximately 30–50% of the height of the mandibular incisors) and is commonly expressed as a percentage.
